Geneva – A latest report from the UN Human Rights Office details harrowing accounts of torture, sexual violence, and exploitation endured by individuals trafficked into forced labor within illicit scam operations across Southeast Asia and beyond. The report, published Monday, documents abuses perpetrated against victims from at least nine countries between 2021 and 2025.
The findings reveal a pattern of systematic abuse, including instances of torture through methods like prolonged immersion in water, beatings, and the forced witnessing of violence against others. Survivors, originating from Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Thailand, Viet Nam, and Zimbabwe, recounted experiences of being lured with false promises of legitimate employment, only to be coerced into perpetrating online fraud – ranging from romance scams to financial extortion.
The operations, often located in sprawling, heavily fortified compounds resembling self-contained towns, are concentrated in the Mekong region, but have similarly spread to Pacific Island countries, South Asia, Gulf States, West Africa, and the Americas, according to the report. Some of these compounds span over 500 acres, featuring multi-story buildings surrounded by barbed wire and guarded by armed personnel.
“The treatment endured by individuals within the context of scam operations is alarming,” states the report. Victims described facing escalating deductions from promised wages, with none ultimately receiving their full salary. One Thai victim reported being required to meet daily scamming targets of $9,500 to avoid penalties, including physical violence or being transferred to compounds with even harsher conditions.
The report also highlights the involvement of some border officials in facilitating the recruitment of victims, as well as instances of police complicity through threats and extortion. Families of victims were often subjected to video calls showing their loved ones being abused, used as leverage to demand ransom payments.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the litany of abuse as “staggering and at the same time heart-breaking.” He emphasized the need for a human rights-based approach to addressing the crisis, including the explicit recognition of forced criminality within anti-trafficking laws and a guarantee of non-punishment for victims. Türk called for coordinated rescue operations, respect for the principle of non-refoulement, and access to trauma rehabilitation services.
The report stresses the importance of increasing safe labor migration pathways and improving oversight of recruitment processes, including verification of online job postings and flagging suspicious recruitment patterns. Türk urged States to engage with trusted community-based actors, such as survivor-led groups, in outreach efforts to individuals at risk of trafficking.
Addressing the systemic nature of the problem, Türk called on States and regional bodies to combat corruption, which he identified as deeply entrenched within these lucrative scam operations, and to prosecute the criminal syndicates responsible. He also underscored the importance of protecting independent media, human rights defenders, and civil society organizations involved in anti-trafficking work.
The UN Human Rights Council opened its 61st session in Geneva on February 23rd, with Secretary-General António Guterres warning that human rights are “under attack” worldwide. The release of this report adds to growing international concern over the escalating human rights abuses linked to these scam operations.
